carry in his hand. But remember it is the Sultan my father asks this favour.’
‘Prince,’ replied the Fairy, smiling, ‘I am sorry that so small a matter should disturb you, and make you so uneasy as you appeared to me.’
Then the Fairy sent for her treasurer, to whom, when she came, she said: ‘Nourgihan’—which was her name—‘bring me the largest pavilion in my treasury.’ Nourgihan returned presently with the pavilion, which she could not only hold in her hand, but in the palm of her hand when she shut her fingers, and presented it to her mistress, who gave it to Prince Ahmed to look at.
When Prince Ahmed saw the pavilion which the Fairy called the largest in her treasury, he fancied she had a mind to jest with him, and thereupon the marks of his surprise appeared presently in his countenance; which Paribanou perceiving burst out a-laughing. ‘What! Prince,’ cried she, ‘do you think I jest with you? You’ll see presently that I am in earnest. Nourgihan,’ said she to her treasurer, taking the tent out of Prince Ahmed’s hands, ‘go and set it up, that the Prince may judge whether it may be large enough for the Sultan his father.’
The treasurer went out immediately with it out of the palace,
